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Album Review: “Light Roars” – 1st Base Runner. Words: Sammy Stein

 

‘Light roars’ is the third official release from award-winning Austin, Texas-based experimental indie rock multi-instrumentalist and producer 1st Base Runner ( Tim Hussman). ‘Light roars encompasses Hussman’s edgy, post-punk, gothic atmospherics and expansive post-rock elements, and includes some dark, emotionally poignant lyrical themes. Previous releases’ Seven Years of Silence’ and ‘Ellis’ saw acclaimed reviews, with ‘Ellis’ charting on the NACC Radio Top 200 for six weeks. 

On ‘Light roars, Hissman adds live drums and bigger guitars to his signature sound, creating a heavier, rhythm-infused collection. Later in 2022, Hussman will showcase his live band, a live EP, and video series. The cover artwork for “Light Roars” continues Husmann‘s creative collaboration with the legendary Matt Needle. Moody, unpredictable and uncompromising, 1st Base Runner is the steadfast artistic anti-hero we need in 2022’s repetitious music scene.

Under the guidance of longtime Radiohead Creative Director Dilly Gent, the project will soon release a video for menacing EP closer “Planter.”

“Light Roars” is out now via 1st Base Runner‘s label and distribution company Souvenir Sound

1st Base Runner is the immersive new project from Texas singer-songwriter and producer Tim Husmann. The visionary artist draws on shoegaze, alternative, and dream pop to create powerful songs that carry the weight of raw emotion and hard-won wisdom.
 
The 1st Base Runner project evolved after a seven-year hiatus. The project combines Hussman’s love of vintage synthesizers, atmospheric musical acts, and surrealist cinema. Husmann performed with international acts at storied venues all across North America from the Troubadour and the Fillmore to Montreal’s St. James United Church, playing drums, synths, and arranging electronic live setups.   Hussman calls his hiatus Seven Years of Silence. 

‘In the Beginning’ is atmospheric, emotive, and eerily engaging. It intones a dreamlike world of expression. The lyrics speak of asking for life, the pressure to give, wanting to be like someone else, and conceding. The heavy synth over deeply textured rhythms adds a slight sense of panic under the gentle, almost whispered vocal lines.   

‘Pushing Away’ see a different vocal take with stronger voices and the guitars setting the patterns of the rhythms and the sweeping vocal lines before the percussion and keys add atmosphere and the tension builds. The gentle harmonising behind the main vocal line adds a soft edge to the sharp, hard-hitting rhythms, with the guitar theme working its way across the top at regular intervals, echoed by the keys. 

‘Dead Wood’ has an intensity and menace created by the deep strings, counterpoint rhythm, and Hussman’s huskily sung lyrics. The middle section is layered, well worked, and intense, with several themes built around the central core of the melody. 

‘Give Up The End’ is a big sound number, with Hussman effectively working in numerous rhythmic patterns and sounds and developing a glorious tumult of noise, which resolves into melodic interludes, topped by his breathy vocals.

‘Planter’ is the outstanding track on the release, and Hussman speaks of wishing to be more like the object of the number. The track speaks of desires, a sense of aspiration, and hope over dreamlike, danceable, and edgy music.    

The quality of this release speaks for itself, and the music is arranged to engage and maintain attention. This is experimental music and different from the mundane. Let the tracks roll again and again.  

 

Stream “Light Roars” on Spotify.

Link to  Souvenir Sound.

Credits:
Written by Tim Husmann
Produced by Tim Husmann
Mixed by Howard Bilerman (https://www.hotel2tango.com/)
Mastered at Sterling Sound by Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone
Art by Matt Needle
Artist promotional photos by Heather Gildroy

Websites:
Official Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram  
Spotify
Bandcamp
Soundcloud
Youtube Channel
Artist Contact Email: 1stbaserunner@gmail.com
Booking/Management: L.G. Conway souvenirpromotions@gmail.com

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